As the Caribbean communities across several states celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month, a number of planned events have been spread across the United States for June. But absent for the second straight year is a proclamation from the Trump Administration to herald the month.

Dr Claire Nelson, organiser of Caribbean Heritage Month, said that the Trump administration has taken the decision not to issue proclamations marking such events.

One of the highlights of the month will be a two-day forum with elected officials from the US Senate and the US House of representatives reflecting on the fact that the future of US-Caribbean relations is increasingly being shaped by the intersection of security, trade, finance, infrastructure, migration, disaster resilience, health systems, and geopolitical competition.